I’ve often thought that increased freedom creates great outcomes for those with the intelligence and character to use it well. A better outcome than a well-meaning bureaucrat, religious authority or paternalistic lawmaker could ever craft.
That that may be a smaller part of the population than we like. Freedom, for many, is merely having enough rope to hang yourself.
An interesting read. I’ve found myself drifting from my steadfast views on liberty as I’ve aged, mostly because I have seen too many people who clearly cannot consent to their own decisions due to impairments in decision making (cognitive impairment/deficiencies, severe mental illness) that have led me to believe there’s a significant role for paternalism, just not global paternalism.
It seems as though (albeit unlikely) we are trying to recreate an Eden on Earth. Automated pure abundance. Is morality even possible in this world? Excepting obvious evils like sadism, choice in that world seems blunted morally by the fact that: well, everyone kinda has what they need.
Relative to the past, it's interesting that so many of us already live in the world of abundance. Many Stoics rail on the luxurious living of their aristocratic students, but the level of material comfort available to those rich students is already here for many today.
Great piece.
I’ve often thought that increased freedom creates great outcomes for those with the intelligence and character to use it well. A better outcome than a well-meaning bureaucrat, religious authority or paternalistic lawmaker could ever craft.
That that may be a smaller part of the population than we like. Freedom, for many, is merely having enough rope to hang yourself.
Balancing these instincts is no easy feat.
An interesting read. I’ve found myself drifting from my steadfast views on liberty as I’ve aged, mostly because I have seen too many people who clearly cannot consent to their own decisions due to impairments in decision making (cognitive impairment/deficiencies, severe mental illness) that have led me to believe there’s a significant role for paternalism, just not global paternalism.
Does your view, or paternalistic leaning, extend beyond cases of impairment and severe mental illness?
I would have to think further on that but generally no, though addiction is a grey area for me.
I’m grateful to God who cast us from Eden.
It seems as though (albeit unlikely) we are trying to recreate an Eden on Earth. Automated pure abundance. Is morality even possible in this world? Excepting obvious evils like sadism, choice in that world seems blunted morally by the fact that: well, everyone kinda has what they need.
Relative to the past, it's interesting that so many of us already live in the world of abundance. Many Stoics rail on the luxurious living of their aristocratic students, but the level of material comfort available to those rich students is already here for many today.